Disability, vet hiring standards for contractors are goals, not quotas

Contractors that fall short of new federal hiring rules concerning veterans and disabled persons will not necessarily incur penalties.

September 11, 2013 |

BD+C Staff

Contractors that fall short of new federal hiring rules concerning veterans and disabled persons will not necessarily incur penalties, says Patricia Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The new standards are not considered quotas, she says. “Part of the reason why we needed these regulations is that neither my agency nor contractors—unless they do this voluntarily—really know who they have in their workplace,” Shiu says. “Although there are some contractors who have tried to measure the number of people with disabilities in the workplace, many contractors don't know.”

The report, “Spending Through the Roof,” says that apartment building owners pay an average of $3,400 a year to replace heat lost through the roof. In taller buildings, the cost can be more than $20,000 a year. Illustration: Urban Green Council